The recommendations of a working group at the Ministry of Education are aimed at preventing violent or mentally ill people from entering fields where they would be responsible for the health and safety of children, for example. Other fields where these measures could be applicable would be with patient, customer, or traffic safety.
"The problem is that educational institutions have not had the means in these situations, in situations where a student is in a field for which they are unfit, there have not been ways to interrupt their education or intervene,” says Minister of Education Henna Virkkunen.
For example, a student studying to be a school teacher could be suspended if they are convicted of a sexual crime, aggravated assault or serious drug crime. A student with serious mental illness could be suspended if they are seeking a degree as a nurse.
Drug Testing Requirement in Some Fields
The working group also believes that students in some fields should be required to submit to drug testing. This includes fields where drug abuse could be a risk in traffic safety, or where the person might contribute to the distribution of drugs. They could be disciplined if they produce a positive drug test or refuse to submit to the testing.
The proposals do not suggest that any suspension would be permanent. A suspended student would have the right to re-claim their study berth if their situation improves.
The proposals were drawn up by a working group for the Ministry of Education, which has been ruminating on the issue for two years.
Their recommendations are now being circulated to various governmental departments for comments. A law based on these suggestions could come into force by the end of 2011.
